16 | Confession

***

Yuri and Sooyoung proceed to spread the gasoline on the school's hallway, taking the chance of everyone being inside their respective classrooms. After making sure it's spreading well, Yuri took out a lighter and smile devilishly before she dropped it. The fire spreads so fast immediately and fire alarms automatically filled the entire building.

Screams and panics from students can be heard in each room. Yuri took the chance to disappear while Sooyoung snapped out of reality, panic as well. But instead of helping the fire stop from spreading, she runs off of the building. The students from above the floor can't get off while the second and first floor are now leaving the building with the school teacher and staff's guide.

"How are we going to leave?" 

"The fire is in the hallway!"

"Teacher, we're going to die!!!"

"Everyone please calm down! It's not going to help us. Firefighters are on the way." Teacher Kang told his students, as he keeps himself calm even though he is panicking inside. He remains calm on the outside. 

Seohyun who is sitting on her chair just does as their teacher says. But the moment the fire entered their classroom, she immediately stood up and help their teacher kill the fire by using the fire extinguisher. Everyone steps back on the wall, afraid to help and be caught by fire. But one by one, they're passing out with the smoke spreading in their classroom. Seohyun took her handkerchief and use it as a facemask.

Moments later three firetrucks came. Students went to the window and started shouting for help.

'Yoona, she hasn't returned.' Seohyun finally realizes when the fire at one of the doors died. She stands in the hallway and in attempts to search for her but the fire is worse than she thought. She patiently keeps using the fire extinguisher but it just keeps getting stronger. Teacher Kang grabs her arm and drags her back inside.

"Let's... wait... for help. They're now getting the others from the next room."

"Yes" Seohyun breathlessly replied. "But those that pass out should be out of the classroom first, Teacher." she suggested glancing at students being held by their classmates. Suddenly the ceiling in the hallway, dropped, startling her. It blocked their entrance which means, they really need to wait for the firefighters to help them out.

"Go to the window. We're lucky we have prevented the fire to fill the room."

"Teacher, the firemen seem not enough." Jungkook approaches them to inform them what he scared off.

Seohyun immediately joined her classmates. Indeed there are only a few of them yet a total of 12 classrooms are on their floor and are experiencing the fire. "Yah! Call for more firetrucks!" she shouted, hoping she will be heard but she wasn't. As time passes and firemen haven't reached their classroom, the fire once again started entering their room. Jungkook immediately helps Seohyun and their teacher. But their extinguisher is soon empty. Most of her classmates can no longer take and risk her life by jumping out of the room.

"Omo." They all gasp in surprise.

Later then another three trucks came and started rescuing and putting the fire out. When the rescue came to their classroom, Seohyun asks everyone to carry their classmates that pass out. Everyone complied and in no time, there are no more students who lose their consciousness. Then one by one they followed.

"Yoona." But as Seohyun climb the window, she thought of her friend.

"Yah, get out of there Seohyun. I'm sure Yoona is fine." Jungkook shouted at her.

Seohyun didn't comply. She returned inside the classroom and went out to be greeted by the fire is still there in the hallway, slowly eating each classroom. "Aish." she runs back inside, only to stop midway when a ceiling dropped and the fire from the hallway once again spreads.

"Aish, we need hose here!" The firefighter scream for help. 

Seohyun did her best to keep her position but the smoke and the fire get bigger each second passes. She's now slowly can't breathe properly and her visions get blurry. Jungkook from the outside keeps calling her but she barely can hear him. Slowly but surely, her world darkens and she falls on the floor, unconscious. 

Jungkook wanted to return but the firefighter already pushed the button that will take them down to the ground.

"Yah, my friend is still out there! What are you doing?!" Jungkook grabs his collar and shakes him a lot of times. But the man took his wrist off of him and look at him with dark eyes, frightening him. "Wha... what are you?"  

An explosion from their room suddenly occurred, everyone screams and Jungkook get down to cover himself. "I'm sorry Seohyun, I'm so sorry." He felt so helpless and sorry that he can't do anything.

Meanwhile, Yoona who just got her consciousness back didn't waste her time and she easily passes through the fire. She reached their classroom and find Seohyun in the middle of the fire unconscious. She lowered herself and put her on her help and tried to wake her up. But she won't. "I'm sorry, Joohyun..." Taking her handkerchief from her pocket, she tied it on the burned right wrist. The feather on her handkerchief lightens, slowly healing the young girl's wound.

"Those bastards." Recalling what happened to her, she knew who did it and it boils her blood out of anger. "YAAAAAHHHH!" And then she exploded, creating a force that blows the fire hard and it created an explosion. 

Lifting her in her arms, she stands on her feet and exited the room. Her entire body glows and her wings slowly appeared from the back. She had her fierce look as she keeps walking in the hallway. The fire that she's passing through will subside. 

Soon she got them walking down the stairs. While everyone is panicking, no one is noticing an angel is among them.

-

Slowly laying her down on the grass under the tree, Yoona still holds the younger girl as she wipes the dirt on her off gently, smiling genuinely at her. "You're safe now." whispers her, leaning to place a tender kiss on her forehead.

On top of the building, Yuri stood with a glared at the two girls. "I need to get rid of this angel first." She realizes the plan won't push through if Yoona will always finds her way back to Seohyun's side.

:::

Stopping in front of the gate in their house, Seohyun looked at the doe-eyed suspiciously. "You really did nothing?" She can't still believe that she ends up lying on on the grass with her.

"No." Yoona shakes her head to deny it. "It was the firefighter who saves you out of danger."

"Chincha?" Seohyun raises her eyebrows while crossing her arms. She's thankful she's safe but the fact that there's no wound or scratches on her body just doesn't make sense. "Tell me the truth, Im Yoona."

Yoona chuckles and knocks her head. "It's you who should tell me the truth. Why did you stay in the room?"

"I didn't see you there. I was hoping to bring you out with me." Seohyun explained defensively. "But I wasn't aware the ceiling is already fragile due to the fire and the smoke. It came off and I wasn't able to come out." she sighs and smiles a little. "Glad the firefighters came to rescue me then."

"Yeah, he's a hero." Yoona softly uttered earning a squint of eyes from the other girl. "It wasn't really me, okay?" She denied it firmly and tried to walk pass at her when Seohyun held her wrist.

"Don't tell me this isn't yours?" Seohyun showed the handkerchief on her wrist and raise her eyebrows to the doe-eyed.

"Oh, that. Definitely, that's mine." Yoona grinned then unlock the gate as she hastily entered the house.

Staring at it for a couple of seconds, Seohyun sighs and decided to brush it off, following the doe-eyed right away.

"You guys are okay, right?" Mrs. Seo greeted them with a worried tone. She saw the fire through the news on tv. She runs there but saw Yoona took care of her daughter. 

"Yes, Omma. The firefighter rescued me." Seohyun informed, hugging her mother. Now that she's home, felt safer. 

"Good to know." Mrs. Seo sighs, rubbing her daughter's back gently for comfort, and mouthed 'thank you' to the other girl nearby.

Yoona nodded and smile genuinely. 

"But it looked like it will take some weeks before school resumes. Most of my classmates are injured and the school will go on repair." said Seohyun, letting go from the hug.

"That's fine. It needs to recover first before everything went back to normal." Mrs. Seo softly said, gently caressing her daughter's face. "I'll prepare dinner now. You guys freshen up."

"I'll help you, Mrs. Seo." Yoona was about to follow her in the kitchen but Mrs. Seo stopped her.

"Rest, Yoona. You guys need it."

"Omma is right." Seohyun agreed that instant and the doe-eyed could only comply. She giggles and caught up with her upstairs, pushing her playfully inside her room, and runs to her own room right away.

Yoona chuckled softly, walking to the bed and sits down to lay down. The events earlier are still stuck in her head. She's glad she was able to gain consciousness before anything bad happens to Seohyun but she's sad that she wasn't able to help the others.

:::

Walking downstairs while rubbing her eyes, Yoona let out a huge yawn and realize the tv screen is on but there's no one watching. 

"Good morning!" Seohyun surprised her when the latter sits up to reveal herself from the sofa. She giggles upon seeing the reaction from a sleepyhead friend of hers. "You sleep too deep didn't you? I tried waking you up but you won't budge."

Yoona let out an exhale and nodded. "Where's your mother?" Ask her, taking her seat to the sofa next to the younger.

"Our neighbor. I mean, she went there to give food just like what they did." Explained the young swimmer. She leaned into Yoona's face and the girl leaned out.

"What?" Yoona raises her eyebrows. She hasn't even recovered from her shock earlier, she surprised her again.

"I heard you mumbling things while asleep."

"I talked?"

Seohyun nodded. "And you were like, I will protect you... I will no matter what. Is that me?" She grinned teasing her.

"No! Of course! You remember I have a crush?"

"Yeah? But that person is not here. And I was the one who got in danger. Don't deny it. It was me having a dream." Seohyun can't be fooled. Ever since the fire, she knew Yoona did something. The handkerchief tells it all. 

Yoona rolled her eyes. She attempted to leave but Seohyun pulled her back.

"You're avoiding again. Means it's really me and you are the one who saved me." Seohyun wiggles her eyebrows while smiling teasingly.

"Have you eaten?" Ask Yoona to change the topic.

"Avoiding means guilty. Tsk, why don't you just confirm it? I will not mind though." Seohyun said as a matter of fact. "The handkerchief has the feather... And you admit it's yours. Are you an angel?" And randomly ask her, leaning to her face that instant.

"You're just thinking nonsense. Have breakfast so you will stop, Seo Joohyun." Yoona knocks her head and got up immediately, running to the kitchen before the younger can stop her.

Seohyun shrugs and just returns her attention to the tv screen.

'She's too persistent. Aish.' Yoona thought in mind while pouring the cereals into a bowl and follows it with fresh milk.

"Do you want to visit our classmates?" Ask Seohyun loudly from the living room.

"Wae?" Yoona responded before taking a big bite of the cereal.

"Most of them are in the hospital. Jungkook called me earlier if I want to tag along with him. To think only a few of us didn't receive any injuries." Seohyun said as she crossed her arms. 

"That's a great idea. I want to give them some fruits if that's fine?" 

"I am planning to buy later too. Let's go after lunch!"

"Sure!"

Just then, Mrs. Seo returned home with a basket of fruits. "I wasn't aware it's his daughter's death anniversary today." She casually told her daughter.

"Chincha? Why do you have the fruits, Omma?" Wonders Seohyun. 

"He heard about the fire and shared fruits from their table, for you." 

"Didn't you tell Mr. Im I'm fine?" Seohyun can't believe her mother accepted it.

"I told him but he insists. And they're remembering his daughter that's why they got a lot of food." Mrs. Seo told her daughter, briefly smiling at her as she passes the living room and heads straight to the kitchen, where she jumps in surprise to see Yoona alone, having her cereals. "Yah, you surprised me, Yoona."